Numerous fender-benders as first snow covers southern NH

Jay Longo of Raymond clears snow off a truck in the lot of Drowne's Auto Body in Raymond on Thursday morning. (David Lane/Union Leader)

It's become an annual ritual: the season's first dusting of snow covers southern New Hampshire, followed by fender-benders, rollovers, spinouts and cars skidding off highways.

Thursday morning was no different with numerous crashes occurring across state and local roads, although none was reported as major, according to a spokesman with the state Traffic Management Center (TMC) in Concord. There were no road closures as of 7:15 a.m.

Speeds along the state's highways, however, were lowered to 45 mph but are expected to be lifted once the roads are cleared of snow. State highway crews are out sanding and salting the roads, which at 7:15 a.m. were in fair condition, according to TMC.

They were expected to clear quickly, however, as snow turned over to rain.